Canada’s population is growing. We now have over 35 million people for the first time ever 🙂 But the growth isn’t even all around. Maritime provinces like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have actually seen a drop in population since last year, meanwhile Alberta and Saskatchewan benefited from growth rates double that of the national average. I have suggested on this blog before to take advantage of the economic prosperity in the western provinces. The property I bought in October 2012 around Regina, SK is worth at least 7% more today according to the latest land reports 😀 I’m glad to see other people are taking my advice and moving to where the jobs are 😎
But besides low unemployment and competitive wages the west is also a terrific place to invest right now. Oil wells, potash mines, productive land, and farm machinery are all capital intensive and require money from investors. Provincial regulation has changed over the years to make it easier for anyone to invest in western Canada. With the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly gone businesses are now able to sell their goods at a fair market price, which encourages more efficiency, greater investment demand, and more workers. Land title restrictions have also been relaxed. BC residents like myself can now buy large amounts of Saskatchewan farmland which was not always possible in the past. When I visited the prairies last year I knew I had to invest in Western Canada. I anticipated all the new businesses and investments will attract more people to move there, which will only fuel industrial demand and production! And more economic activity means more profit 😀 If I ever decide to invest in a rental property like a condo I’d want to do it either in Edmonton or Calgary since I already have investments in BC and SK, but not yet in Alberta. Lots of opportunities out there, all I need now is the money 😀
*Side Income:
- Part-Time Work = $500
- Dividends = $400
- Eating Out = $0
- Others = $300 (Bought an 8 inch tablet pc)
*Net Worth: (MoM)
- Assets: = $574,800 total (+$2800)
- Cash = $5600 (–$1000)
- Stocks CDN =$75,100 (+$900)
- Stocks US = $40,800 (+$1200)
- RRSP = $31,500 (+$1700)
- Home = $252,000 (same)
- Farm 1 = $152,500 (same)
- Farm 2 deposit = $17,300 (same)
- Debts: = $383,400 total (-1200)
- Mortgage = $201,400 (-$300)
- Farm 1 Loan = $109,700 (-$300)
- Margin Loan CDN = $26,100 (Same)
- Margin Loan US = $23,000 (+700)
- TD Line of Credit = $19,000 (-$700)
- Credit Card = $4200 (-$600)
*Total Net Worth = $191,400 (+2.13%)
All numbers above are in CAD. Conversion rate used: 1.00 USD = 1.03 CAD
$4000 increase so not a bad month 🙂 It’s mainly thanks to low interest rates and continuing stock market rally which pushed my portfolio to new highs 🙂 The annual interest rate on the credit card balance is only 1.9% until November. Keeping some cash on hand for legal and closing costs. I think $200,000 in net worth is achievable by the end of the year.
You did awesome this month!
As for Quebec, I see them more as Quebecois, not French from France…. As in fleur-de-lis, Quebec blue and poutine with a lumberjack outfit.
Thanks! You did pretty well too :), considering your current income situation. I’ve never been to Quebec yet so I’m not sure what to make of the image in that photo.
Congratulations on yet another consecutive up month. You are getting good at this =P. Keep your eyes on that debt ratio, especially with the prospect of US volatility on the horizon. You are well diversified, and have time, but be weary of the precarious situation of our neighbours to the South. I’m amazed that they still have not acknowledged/sorted their financial direction as yet! – Cheers.
Thanks for the reminder. The consecutive up months are partly due to the strength of the US stock market which is up 17% year to date 😯 We’ll probably see a lot more volatility in stocks during the next couple of weeks before the US government has to raise the debt ceiling again. October is historically a poor performing month for stocks as well 😐 Good thing I’m getting paid $5000 in October from my farm tenant. I hope that will help cushion my net worth against any meaningful stock market correction if we have one 😕
$4000 increase in one month is definitely good. Keep up the good work.
Thanks. Most investments have done fairly well this year no matter which sector you’ve bought in to. However gold and some other commodities have under performed quite significantly. I think this is a good time to re balance my portfolio and maybe buy some more cold or silver while the price is still cheap 🙂
Very nice gain! Farmland has increased so much here, even in the past two years. The stock margin accounts scare me but are obviously working for you.
Especially in the Mid West and around the corn belt, farm prices in a lot of areas are up double digits this year 🙂 Not just that, but residential homes in the US have also done quite well lately 😀
Along with the population fgrowth is your portfolio! Good job!
That’s my plan 🙂 The more the merrier. We are very underpopulated up here so it’s good to see we are growing. Canada has more land area than the US, but we only have about 11% of the US population lol.
Nice gain, Liquid! Glad I’m finding out about your blog; been poking around a bit (I swear I’m not stalking, just learning!) and I already know I’m going to be checking back often – insightful, HELPFUL content you have here, and I like your humor as well. Even though you’re blogging from Canadia (I was born in Ottawa and moved to the States when I was 14!), a lot of the general strategy tips you mention could definitely apply here as well as I venture into the world of investing a little more aggressively. Maybe I’ll be one of those readers who will email you a few months down the line to tell you how I’m doing! Keep up the great work.
PS. Not sure if you’re aware of this site – I have yet to try it out, but a friend is using it and posted an update recently – but if you’re looking to try out some new investments, updown.com might come in handy without risking any of your real money 🙂
Ottawa is a great city. But it can be a little cold there in the winter. Feel free to contact me anytime 🙂 If you have dual citizenship then you may be eligible one day for both social security and old age security lol. Double government pension woohoo! 😀
Unfortunately, when my passport expired, the US side didn’t recognize the duality upon renewal – but I still have my Canadian birth certificate, so at least there’s that! Haha. Beaver tails and poutine will forever hold a special place in my heart.